Beverage machines with modularity

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a beverage machine (1) having an external housing (10) and a plurality of movable beverage preparation modules (20, 30) that are configured to process a beverage and/or a beverage ingredient to be dispensed via at least one beverage dispensing outlet (25) to a user-cup or user-mug (2). The housing (10) has a front opening (10′) and forms a cavity (10″) for housing the modules (20, 30). The or each movable module (20, 30) is insertable as a unit into an operative position into the cavity (10″) and removable out of the cavity (10″) via the front opening (10′), such as movable along a substantially horizontal direction into and out of its operative position. The or each movable module (20, 30) is insertable as a unit into the cavity (10″) into its operative position and removable out of the cavity (10″) via the front opening (10′) independently of the presence inside the cavity (10″) of any other movable beverage preparation module (20, 30) in its operative position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention pertains to beverage preparation machinesprovided with exchangeable beverage preparation modules, e.g. machinesusing capsules of an ingredient of the beverage to be prepared.

For the purpose of the present description, a “beverage” is meant toinclude any human-consumable liquid substance, such as tea, coffee, hotor cold chocolate, milk, soup, baby food, etc. . . . . A “capsule” ismeant to include any pre-portioned beverage ingredient, such as aflavouring ingredient, within an enclosing packaging of any material, inparticular an airtight packaging, e.g. plastic, aluminium, recyclableand/or biodegradable packagings, and of any shape and structure,including soft pods or rigid cartridges containing the ingredient. Thecapsule may contain an amount of ingredient for preparing a singlebeverage portion or a plurality of beverage portions.

BACKGROUND ART

The development and manufacturing of a range of beverage producingmachines, in particular those using portioned ingredients such ascapsules, offering different functions and/or different beveragedelivery capacities, is complex and costly.

There is a need for rationalizing the development and the manufacturingand maintenance of the beverage machines while still providing a rangeof machines with different functions and options for the consumer.

FR 2 554 185 teaches a series of modular elements which can be combinedtogether so as to constitute an espresso coffee beverage system. Themodular elements are associated side by side. One element is a coffeeproducing module while another element is a steam producing module. WO2007/141334 discloses a modular beverage production system with adocking station and a beverage production module having inter-connectedcontrol circuitries. The control circuitry of the module can bedisconnected from the circuitry of the docking station for an autonomouscontrol of the module when the module is disconnected from the station.US 2005/0015263 discloses a network of various food services equipmentitems that can be controlled from a central computer. WO 2009/074550discloses a method of manufacturing different beverage machine rangesusing one type of core units.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a preferred object of the invention to rationalize the productionand/or maintenance of beverage production machines by offering a rangeof differing beverage production machines and/or beverage machines thatenable easy maintenance.

The invention relates to a machine for preparing a beverage. Thebeverage preparation machine can be an in-home or out of home machine.The machine may be for the preparation of coffee, tea, chocolate, cacao,milk, soup, baby food, etc. . . . .

The beverage preparation typically includes the mixing of a plurality ofbeverage ingredients, e.g. water and milk powder, and/or the infusion ofa beverage ingredient, such as an infusion of ground coffee or tea withwater. One or more of such ingredients may be supplied in loose and/oragglomerate powder form and/or in liquid form, in particular in aconcentrate form. A carrier liquid, e.g. water, may be mixed with suchingredient to form the beverage. Typically, a predetermined amount ofbeverage is formed and dispensed on user-request, which corresponds to aportion (e.g. a serving). The volume of such portion may be in the rangeof 25 to 200 ml and even up to 300 or 400 ml, e.g. the volume forfilling a cup, depending on the type of beverage. Formed and dispensedbeverages may be selected from ristrettos, espressos, lungos,cappuccinos, latte macchiato, café latte, americano coffees, teas, etc.. . . . For instance, a coffee machine may be configured for dispensingespressos, e.g. an adjustable volume of 20 to 60 ml per portion, and/orfor dispensing lungos, e.g. a volume in the range of 70 to 150 ml perportion.

The beverage machine has an external housing and a plurality of movablebeverage preparation modules that are configured to process a beverageand/or a beverage ingredient to be dispensed via at least one beveragedispensing outlet to a user-cup or user-mug, such as via 2, 3 or 4beverage dispensing outlets. The housing has a front opening and forms acavity for housing the modules. The or each movable module is insertableas a unit into an operative position into the cavity and removable as aunit out of the cavity via the front opening, such as movable along asubstantially horizontal direction into and out of its operativeposition. The module may be slidable like a drawer in and out of thecavity.

For instance, a movable beverage preparation module is a master modulewith a master control unit and at least a further movable beveragepreparation module is a slave module with a slave control unit connectedto the master control unit. The master control unit and the slavecontrol unit may be connected via a data transmission channel, e.g. viathe cavity and module connectors. For example, the slave module isinoperative to produce a beverage when the master module is removed fromthe housing and/or the master module is inoperative to produce abeverage when the slave module is removed from the housing. Providing amaster and slave arrangement may be useful to coordinate the modules interms of power supply (e.g. to limit the power consumption by themachine to the capacity of the mains) and/or ingredient supply, e.g.liquid supply such as water supply.

The or each movable module may be insertable, as a unit, into the cavityinto its operative position and removable, as a unit, out of the cavityvia the front opening, independently of the presence inside the cavityof any other movable beverage preparation module in its operativeposition.

In other words, in order to remove one movable beverage preparationmodule from the external housing (e.g. for replacement or servicing), itis not necessary to remove first another beverage preparation module.One may select any movable beverage preparation module and remove itwithout interfering with the position of any other movable beveragepreparation modules in its operative position. To remove as a unit amovable beverage preparation module from the external housing, one doesnot have to first dismantle successive parts of the movable beveragepreparation module before moving the entire module out. To move themovable beverage preparation module as a unit into the external housing,one does not have to assemble successive parts of the movable beveragemodule within the external housing or first move another movablebeverage preparation module.

The housing may have an external rear face opposite the front opening.For instance, one or more or all movable beverage preparation modules intheir operative position in the housing cavity contact or are adjacentto the rear face e.g. distant to the rear face by no more than 5 or 10cm.

The housing can have an external bottom face facing an external topface, e.g. a top face with a centrally confined area for storing cups ormugs. For instance, one or more or all movable beverage preparationmodules extend over substantially an entire height of the housing cavityspacing the top face from the bottom face.

The housing can have such external rear face, top face, bottom face andfacing external side faces in a generally parallelepipedic arrangement.

The housing may include the above external rear face that supports or isadjacent to a plurality of cavity connectors, each movable beveragepreparation module having a module connector that is connected to acorresponding cavity connector when the module is located thereagainstwhile reaching its operative position and that is disconnected from thecorresponding cavity connector when the module is removed from thecavity.

One or more module connectors and/or cavity connectors can have at leastone of an electric power connection, a data connection and a fluidconnection.

A cavity connector and a corresponding module connector may have aplurality of electric power connections to power a plurality of powercomponents of the movable beverage preparation module associated withthe module connector, such as a thermal conditioner and a liquid driver,e.g. a pump. Alternatively several power components may be powered bythe same power connection.

One or more cavity connectors may have at least one of a fluidconnection connected to a fluid source via a rigid or flexible fluidline and a power connection connected to a power source, e.g. to anelectric cord for connection to the mains.

One or more or all of the cavity connectors may be formed as a singleunit or as a plurality of units.

One or more module connectors can be connected together, such asconnected together to transmit at least one of data, fluid and power,between removable and/or non-removable beverage preparation modules.

At least one cavity connector may be connected to a connector of anon-removable module.

Hence, the same cavity connector may be used for connecting a removablemodule and a non-removable module, as required for a specificconfiguration in the external housing of removable and optionallynon-removable modules.

At least one connector of a pair of cooperating module connector andcavity connector may have a connection interface device that isresiliently mounted to a connection base device, e.g. by at least onespring elements such as a helicoidal spring and/or a blade spring, toenable a positioning adjustment when the module connector and the cavityconnector are connected together. The connection base device may bedirectly or indirectly fixed to the housing or integral therewith.

Such a resilient assembly may compensate a play between a movablebeverage preparation module and the cavity connector, especially whenthe module is positioned in the housing cavity relative to a positioningelement that is different to the cavity connector.

At least one pair of module connector and cavity connector may have aguide arrangement to promote a proper relative positioning of the moduleconnector and the cavity connector when approaching each other, when thecorresponding movable module approaches its operative position. Forinstance, the guide arrangement comprises a positioning pin andcorresponding guiding hole arrangement.

At least one pair of module connector and cavity connector can have asensing arrangement to sense a proper relative positioning of the moduleconnector and the cavity connector. For instance, the sensingarrangement includes at least one switch operated when the correspondingmovable module reaches or leaves its operative position, e.g. aplurality of spaced apart contact switches. Using a plurality ofswitches may be appropriate to prevent any misplacement of theconnectors due to relative twisting thereof.

The machine can have an external machine front face, each movable modulein its operative position having an external module front face thatforms a section of the external machine front face and that extendsacross or over the front opening. The or each module external front facemay extend over at least 75% of the overall width or height of thehousing, such as at least 80%, 85% or 90% of the overall width or heightof the housing.

It is thus possible to provide a housing containing the movable beveragepreparation modules that does not require a front door to shield themodules, the movable modules forming themselves the external face of themachine.

In a particular embodiment, each module front face extends flush with anadjacent external face to form together part or all of the externalmachine front face when the modules are in their operative position.Such adjacent external face may form a front face of an adjacent movablebeverage preparation module or of another module. The adjacent externalface can form a face non-removably mounted to the housing. For instance,the adjacent external face is formed by a door that is non-removablymounted to the housing.

In this context, “non-removable” designates an attachment that is notintended to be dismantled by normal servicing or during ordinaryhandling, especially by an ordinary user, as opposed to the “movability”characteristic of the movable beverage preparation module.

To detach a “non-removable” attachment either a special tool orknowledge not possessed by ordinary users (non-communicated specialhandling instruction) is required or breaking a part of the machine isrequired.

At least one movable beverage preparation module in its operativeposition can be releasably secured against an element that positions themodule in its operative position, such as an internal positioningelement, fixed to or integral with the housing, by a securing device.Such securing device can be selected from a latch, lock, clip and screw;and/or accessible from outside the housing, e.g. from adjacent the frontopening.

Hence, the movable modules can be reliably positioned in the housing.This can be especially advantageous when the modules are expected toprovide a flush external machine front face.

At least one movable beverage preparation module can have an arrangementfor facilitating a movement into and/or out of the housing cavity, thefacilitating arrangement comprising at least one of: a grip or handleseizable from outside the housing when the movable beverage preparationmodule is in its operative position, such as a grip or handle recessedin a module's external front face; and a guide arrangement cooperatingwith a counter-arrangement fixed to or integral with the housing, e.g.an internal guide arrangement, such as a guiding rail or a guidinggroove.

The machine can include a cup support.

The cup support may form a device mounted to the housing in front of thefront opening, e.g. along a bottom of the front opening, such asremovably mounted to a connector of the housing.

The cup support can secure one or more or all movable beveragepreparation modules in their operative position in the cavity.

The cup support may be removably mounted to the housing and associatedwith a presence sensor, such as a contact switch, for sensing a properpositioning of the cup support on the housing.

The cup support can include a cup support grid optionally located on adrip collection reservoir.

At least one movable beverage preparation module may include a cupholder for holding a cup under at least one beverage outlet, such asunder 2, 3 or 4 beverage outlets. For instance, the cup holder ismovably mounted against a main body of the module so as to be movable inan operative position for holding the cup under the beverage outlet(s)(and into an inoperative position for enabling the placement of a mug,taller than the cup, under the beverage outlet(s), such as on aplacement surface formed by a lower cup support or by an externalplacement surface on which the machine is itself placed. For example,the cup holder can be pivotally attached to the main body so as to pivotin a horizontal or vertical plane between its inoperative and operativepositions.

Examples of cup holders are disclosed in EP 1 867 260, WO 2011/154492and WO 2012/007313.

At least one movable beverage preparation module can be a flavouredbeverage dispenser, such as a dispenser of tea, coffee, chocolate, cacaoand soup, configured to combine a flavouring ingredient and a liquidcarrier such as water for dispensing a resulting beverage via thebeverage outlet or via at least one of the beverage outlets.

The housing cavity may contain at least two such movable flavouredbeverage preparation modules.

Such movable flavoured beverage preparation module may include an inletfor a flavouring ingredient, such as a pre-portioned favouringingredient supplied in a capsule.

The movable flavoured beverage preparation module can include at leastone of: an ingredient mixing unit, e.g.

a brewing unit; a fluid line, e.g. including at least one of a pump,sensor, valve, and thermal conditioner such as a heater and/or a cooler;and a control unit optionally connected to a user-interface.

The movable flavoured beverage preparation module can have a wastematerial collector, such as a waste ingredient and/or fluid collector.

Examples of waste ingredient collectors are disclosed in EP 1867260, WO2009/074559, WO 2009/135869, WO 2010/128109, WO 2011/086087 and WO2011/086088.

The thermal conditioner may be a boiler or a thermoblock or an on demandheater (ODH), for instance an ODH type disclosed in EP 1 253 844, EP 1380 243 and EP 1 809 151.

Examples of liquid drivers e.g. pumps and their incorporation intobeverage machines are disclosed in WO 2009/150030, WO 2010/108700, WO2011/107574 and WO 2013/098173.

Examples of suitable mixing unit with first and second ingredientenclosing modules that are relatively moved by a motor are disclosed inEP 1767129, WO 2012/025258, WO 2012/025259, WO 2013/127476 and WO2014/056641. The first and second enclosing modules may be movedmanually, e.g. as disclosed in WO 2005/004683, WO 2007/135135,WO2007/135136, WO 2009/043630. The first module and the second module ofthe mixing unit can be relatively movable generally along a longitudinalstraight axis. Typically, the first and second modules of the mixingunit are distant from each other in the transfer position and close toeach other in the mixing position. In the mixing position, the first andsecond modules may define a mixing chamber, e.g. a chamber for receivinga plurality of beverage ingredients to be mixed together. In oneembodiment, the mixing chamber is an infusion chamber in which infusibleingredients, e.g. coffee or tea, are exposed to a carrier liquid, suchas water e.g. hot water. The mixing chamber may be configured to receiveloose solid ingredient particles and/or to receive proportionedingredients within a capsule. At least one part of the first and secondmodules may delimit a cavity for receiving the ingredient e.g. within acapsule, such as a tapered cavity, e.g. a conical or pyramidal cavity,or a straight cavity, e.g. a cylindrical or trapezoidal cavity. Suchcavity may extend along an axis that is generally collinear with theabove longitudinal straight axis. The other part of these first andsecond parts may include an extraction plate, such as a plate providedwith piercing elements for opening a flow-through face of the capsule ora non-intrusive plate for cooperating with a pre-opened or aself-opening flow-through face of the capsule. Self-opening capsules arefor instance disclosed in CH 605 293, WO 03/059778, WO 2011/000723, WO2011/000724 and WO 2011/000725. The opening and handling of capsules bya machine's piercing elements of a plate are for example disclosed in EP512 470, EP 2 068 684 and WO 2013/026845. Examples of suitable mixingunits with mixing chambers are disclosed in WO 2008/037642, WO2013/026843, WO 2013/026843, WO 2013/026844 and WO 2013/026856. Aflavoured beverage may be prepared by circulating (by means of a liquiddriver, e.g. a pump) a carrier liquid, such as water, into the capsuleto flavour the liquid by exposure to a flavouring ingredient held in thecapsule, e.g. along an extraction direction that may be generallyparallel to the direction of relative movement of the first and secondmodules of the mixing units. When closed capsules are used, the firstand second modules may include a capsule opener such as blades and/or atearing tool, e.g. a plate with a tearing profile, for instance as knownfrom Nespresso™ machines or as disclosed in EP 0 512 470, EP 2 068 684and WO 2014/076041 and the references cited therein. The interactionbetween the first and second modules (and optionally a capsule transferchannel) and an ingredient capsule may be of the type disclosed in WO2005/004683, WO 2007/135135, WO2007/135136, WO 2008/037642 and WO2013/026856. The machine may include a capsule loader associated withthe transfer channel for loading a capsule. The capsule to be loaded maybe of the type described above under the title “Field of the Invention”and/or the capsule may include an ingredient described under the sametitle. The capsule can comprise a capsule body, e.g. a generallystraight or tapered body. The capsule can have a circular peripheralannulus flange, e.g. a flexible or rigid flange, extending from aperipheral part, e.g. an edge or face, of the capsule body. The capsulemay contain a flavoring ingredient for preparing tea, coffee, hotchocolate, cold chocolate, milk, soup or baby food. The capsule loadermay have: a capsule holding configuration for holding an ingredientcapsule away from the mixing unit; and a capsule releasing configurationfor releasing the capsule in or into the transfer channel towards themixing unit. The loader may have a capsule gate that is movable, such aspivotable and/or translatable, between a position obstructing thetransfer channel for preventing a passage of the capsule along thechannel and a position clearing the transfer channel for allowing apassage of the capsule along the channel. Details of suitable capsuleloaders are disclosed in WO 2012/126971, WO 2014/056641, WO 2014/056642and WO 2015/086371. Details of suitable capsule sensing are disclosed inWO 2012/123440, WO 2014/147128, PCT/EP15/060555, PCT/EP15/060561,PCT/EP15/060567, PCT/EP15/065415 and PCT/EP15/065535.

At least one movable beverage preparation module can be a dispenser of amilk-based beverage. Such module has a cavity for containing milk to bedispensed. For instance, the milk dispensing module includes at leastone of: a front door for accessing the cavity; a removable reservoir inthe cavity for storing milk; a milk suction line for taking milk fromthe milk cavity and guiding the milk to the beverage outlet or to atleast one of the beverage outlets, optionally such outlet(s) being alsoused for dispensing another beverage, e.g. coffee; a cooling arrangementfor cooling milk in the cavity; a heating arrangement for heating milkto be dispensed by the beverage outlet(s); a frothing arrangement forfrothing milk to be dispensed by the beverage outlet(s), e.g. a venturitype frother or static mixer type frother (e.g. forced conduit); and aconnector arrangement having a milk outlet connectable to a milk inletof another movable beverage preparation module.

Examples of suitable milk processing architectures are for exampledisclosed in WO 2011/095509, WO2012/093157 and WO2012/097916.

The machine of the invention may include a removable or non-removableliquid reservoir module having a cavity for containing liquid, e.g.water, to be dispensed. The liquid reservoir module is typically housedin the machine's external housing.

Such module typically includes at least one of: a front door foraccessing the cavity; a liquid suction line for taking fluid from theliquid cavity; a water connection connected via a fluid line to one ormore cavity connectors and/or module connectors; and a single optionallyremovable reservoir or a plurality of optionally removable reservoirsfor storing liquid in the cavity. Optionally, the cavity comprises aplurality of reservoirs for supplying water to a corresponding pluralityof movable beverage preparation modules of the same type or a singlereservoir for supplying water to a single movable beverage preparationmodule or a plurality of beverage modules of different types.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the schematicdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a machine with an external housing according to theinvention, the machine including two flavored beverage preparationmodules and a water reservoir module in the housing's cavity;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the machine shown in FIG. 1 when thewater reservoir module has its door open to access a the module's cavitycontaining one out of two water reservoirs;

FIG. 3 shows the machine of FIG. 2 in which the water reservoir is movedout of the cavity of the water reservoir module;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the machine of FIG. 2 in which one ofthe two flavoured beverage preparation modules has been moved out of thehousing's cavity;

FIG. 5 shows the external housing of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of part the external housing of FIG. 5 withits cavity containing a cavity connector;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of part the external housing of FIG. 5 uponremoval of the cup support with the housing's cavity containing a guidefor guiding the insertion and removable of a beverage preparationmodule;

FIG. 8 shows a grip or handle and securing device of the movablebeverage preparation module;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of part of the cavity connector;

FIG. 10 illustrates a machine with an external housing according to theinvention, the machine including one flavored beverage preparationmodule, one milk-based beverage preparation module and a water reservoirmodule in the housing's cavity;

FIG. 11 shows the machine of FIG. 10 when the milk module has its dooropen to access a the module's cavity for containing a (not shown) milkreservoir;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the machine shown in FIG. 10 when thewater reservoir module has its door open to access the module's cavitycontaining a single water reservoirs;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the machine shown in FIG. 10 uponremoval from the housing's cavity of the milk module; and

FIG. 14 shows the machine of FIG. 13 upon removal of both the milkmodule and the cup support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 to 9 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention in whichmachine 1 has an external housing 10 containing two flavoured beveragepreparation modules 20 and a liquid reservoir module 40. FIGS. 10 to 14illustrate a second embodiment of the invention in which machine 1 hasan external housing 10 containing a flavoured beverage preparationmodules 20, a module 30 for preparing a milk-based beverage and a liquidreservoir module 50. External housings 10 of both embodiments can be thesame or different. Likewise, flavoured beverage preparation modules 20can be the same or different in both embodiments. Liquid reservoirmodules 40, 50 can be the same or different in both embodiments. Forexample, flavoured beverage preparation modules 20 and milk module 30are movable modules whereas liquid, e.g. water, reservoir modules 40, 50are non-movable modules, fixed in housing 10. Alternatively, liquidreservoir modules 40, 50 may be movable modules.

Hence, machine 1 has an external housing 10 and a plurality of movablebeverage preparation modules 20, 30 that are configured to process abeverage and/or a beverage ingredient to be dispensed via at least onebeverage dispensing outlet 25 to a user-cup or user-mug 2, such as 2, 3or 4 beverage dispensing outlets. Housing 10 has a front opening 10′ andforms a cavity 10″ for housing movable modules 20, 30. The or eachmovable module 20, 30 is insertable as a unit into an operative positioninto cavity 10″ and removable out of cavity 10″ via front opening 10′,such as movable along a substantially horizontal direction into and outof its operative position.

The or each movable module 20, 30 is insertable as a unit into cavity10″ into its operative position and removable as a unit out of cavity10″ via front opening 10′, independently of the presence inside cavity10″ of any other movable beverage preparation module 20, 30 in itsoperative position.

Housing 10 may have an external rear face 10′″ opposite front opening10′. For instance, one or more or all movable beverage preparationmodules 20, 30 in their operative position in the cavity 10″ contact orare adjacent to rear face 10′″, e.g. distant to the rear face by no morethan 5 or 10 cm.

Housing 10 can have an external top face 10 c, e.g. a top face with acentrally confined area for storing cups or mugs 2, facing an externalbottom face 10 b. For instance, one or more or all movable beveragepreparation modules 20, 30 extend over substantially an entire height ofcavity 10″ spacing top face 10 c from bottom face 10 b.

Housing 10 may have such an external rear face 10′″, top face 10 c,bottom face 10 b and facing external side faces 10 a in a generallyparallelepipedic arrangement.

Rear face 10′″ can support or be adjacent to a plurality of cavityconnectors 11, each movable beverage preparation module 20, 30 having amodule connector that is connected to a corresponding cavity connector11 when module 20, 30 is located thereagainst while reaching itsoperative position and that is disconnected from the correspondingcavity connector 11 when module 20, 30 is removed from cavity 10″.

One or more module connectors and/or cavity connectors 11 may have atleast one of an electric power connection 110, a data connection 111 anda fluid connection 112.

A cavity connector 11 and a corresponding module connector may have aplurality of electric power connections 110 to power a plurality ofpower components of movable module 20, 30 associated with the moduleconnector, such as a thermal conditioner and a liquid driver, e.g. apump. Alternatively several power components may be powered by the samepower connection.

One or more cavity connectors 11 can have at least one of a fluidconnection 112 connected to a fluid source 43 via a rigid or flexiblefluid line 112′ and a power connection 110′ connected to a power source,e.g. to an electric cord for connection to the mains.

One or more or all of cavity connectors 11 can be formed as a singleunit or plurality of units 110, 111; 112.

For instance, a fluid connection 112 is provided as a unit separate to aunit bearing the power and data connections 110, 111.

One or more module connectors 11 can be connected together. Forinstance, they are connected together to transmit at least one of data,fluid and power, between removable and/or non-removable beveragepreparation modules 20, 30, 40, 50.

Movable beverage preparation modules 20, 30 may incorporate: at leasttwo different types of modules 20, 30; and/or a master movable beveragepreparation module 20 with a master control unit and a slave movablebeverage preparation module 20, 30 with a slave control unit connectedto the master control unit. The master control unit and the slavecontrol unit may be connected via a data transmission channel, such asvia the cavity and module connectors 11 (e.g. via data connection 111).For instance, such slave module 20, 30 is inoperative to produce abeverage when master module 20 is removed from housing 10 and/or mastermodule 20 is inoperative to produce a beverage when slave module 20, 30is removed from housing 10.

At least one cavity connector 11 may be connected to connector of anon-removable module 40, 50.

At least one connector 11 of a pair of cooperating module connector andcavity connector 11 may have a connection interface device 11 a that isresiliently mounted to a connection base device 11 b, e.g. by at leastone spring elements 11 c such as a helicoidal spring and/or a bladespring, to enable a positioning adjustment when the module connector andthe cavity connector 11 are connected together. Connection base device11 b may be directly or indirectly fixed to housing 10 or integraltherewith.

At least one pair of module connector and cavity connector 11 can have aguide arrangement to promote a proper relative positioning of the moduleconnector and cavity connector 11 when approaching each other when thecorresponding movable module 20, 30 approaches its operative position.For instance, the guide arrangement includes a positioning pin 11 d andcorresponding guiding hole arrangement.

At least one pair of module connector and cavity connector 11 may have asensing arrangement to sense a proper relative positioning of the moduleconnector and cavity connector 11. For instance, the sensor includes atleast one switch 11 e operated when the corresponding movable module 20,30 reaches or leaves its operative position, e.g. the sensor includes aplurality of spaced apart contact switches.

Machine 1 may include an external machine front face 1′, each movablemodule 20, 30 in its operative position having an external module frontface 21, 31 that forms a section of external machine front face 1′ andthat extends across or over front opening 10′.

For instance, the or each module external front face 21, 31 extends overat least 75% of the overall width or height of the housing 10, such asat least 80%, 85% or 90% of the overall width or height of housing 10.

Each module front face 21, 31 may extend flush with an adjacent externalface 21, 31, 41, 51 to form together part or all of the external machinefront face 1′ when the modules are in their operative position. Forinstance, the adjacent face 21, 31, 41, 51 forms a front face 21, 31 ofan adjacent movable beverage preparation module 20, 30 or of anothermovable module or forms a face 41, 51 non-removably mounted to housing10 (e.g. it may be formed by a non-removable door 42, 52 assembled tohousing 10).

At least one movable beverage preparation module 20, 30 in its operativeposition can be releasably secured against an element 113 that positionsthe module 20, 30 in its operative position, such as an internalpositioning element 113, fixed to or integral with housing 10, by asecuring device 22 that is optionally: selected from a latch, lock, clipand screw 22; and/or accessible from outside housing 10, e.g. fromadjacent front opening 10′.

At least one movable beverage preparation module 20, 30 may have anarrangement for facilitating a movement into and/or out of housingcavity 10″, the facilitating arrangement comprising at least one of: agrip or handle 23 seizable from outside housing 10 when movable beveragepreparation module 20, 30 is in its operative position, such as a gripor handle 23 recessed in a module's external front face 21, 31; and aguide arrangement 12 cooperating with a counter-arrangement fixed to orintegral with the housing 10, e.g. an internal guide arrangement, suchas a guiding rail 12 or a guiding groove.

Machine 1 can include a cup support 13.

Cup support 13 may form a device mounted to housing 10 in front of frontopening 10′, e.g. along a bottom of front opening 10′, such as removablymounted to a connector 13′ of housing 10.

Cup support 13 can secure one or more or all movable beveragepreparation modules 20, 30 in their operative position in cavity 10″.

Cup support 13 may be removably mounted to housing 10 and associatedwith a presence sensor 13″, such as a contact switch, for sensing aproper positioning of cup support 13 on housing.

Cup support 13 can include a cup support grid optionally located on adrip collection reservoir.

At least one movable beverage preparation module 20 may include a cupholder 26 for holding a cup 2 under beverage outlet(s) 25. For instance,cup holder 26 is movably mounted against a main body of module 20 so asto be movable in an operative position for holding cup 2 under beverageoutlet(s) 25 and into an inoperative position for enabling the placementof a mug, taller than cup 2, under beverage outlet(s) 25.

At least one movable beverage preparation module 20 can be a flavouredbeverage dispenser 20, such as a dispenser of tea, coffee, chocolate,cacao and soup. Such module 20 can be configured to combine a flavouringingredient and a liquid carrier, such as water, for dispensing aresulting beverage via beverage outlet 25 or via at least one of thebeverage outlets. Such machine 1 may have at least one of the followingfeatures:

-   -   its cavity 10″ containing at least two such movable beverage        preparation modules 20;    -   such movable beverage preparation module 20 comprising an inlet        27 for a flavouring ingredient, such as a pre-portioned        favouring ingredient supplied in a capsule;    -   such movable beverage preparation module 20 comprising at least        one of: an ingredient mixing unit, e.g. a brewing unit; a fluid        line, e.g. including at least one of a pump, sensor, valve, and        thermal conditioner such as a heater and/or a cooler; and a        control unit optionally connected to a user-interface; and    -   such movable beverage preparation module 20 comprising a waste        material collector 28, such as a waste ingredient and/or fluid        collector.

At least one movable beverage preparation module 30 can be a dispenserof a milk-based beverage. Such module 30 may include a cavity 35 forcontaining milk to be dispensed. For instance, such module 30 comprisesat least one of: a front door 32 for accessing cavity 35; a removablereservoir in cavity 35 for storing milk; a milk suction line 33 fortaking milk from the milk cavity 35 and guiding the milk to beverageoutlet 25 or to at least one of the beverage outlets; a coolingarrangement for cooling milk in cavity 35; a heating arrangement forheating milk to be dispensed by beverage outlet(s) 25; a frothingarrangement for frothing milk to be dispensed by beverage outlet(s) 25;and a connector arrangement having a milk outlet connectable to a milkinlet of another movable beverage preparation module 20.

Machine 1 may include a removable or non-removable liquid reservoirmodule 40, 50 having a cavity 45, 55 for containing liquid, e.g. water,to be dispensed. For instance, such module 40, 50 includes at least oneof: a front door 42, 52 for accessing cavity 45, 55; a liquid suctionline 43, 53 for taking fluid from liquid cavity 45, 55; a waterconnection 43 connected via a fluid line 112 to one or more cavityconnectors 11 and/or module connectors; and a single optionallyremovable reservoir or a plurality of optionally removable reservoirs 44for storing liquid in cavity 45, 55. The cavity comprises for instance aplurality of reservoirs 44 for supplying water to a correspondingplurality of movable beverage preparation modules 20 of the same type ora single reservoir 54 for supplying water to a single movable beveragepreparation module or a plurality of beverage preparation modules 20, 30of different types.

1. A beverage machine having an external housing and a plurality ofmovable beverage preparation modules that are configured to process abeverage and/or a beverage ingredient to be dispensed via at least onebeverage dispensing outlet to a user-cup or user-mug, the housing havinga front opening and forming a cavity for housing the modules, themovable module being insertable as a unit into an operative positioninto the cavity and removable out of the cavity via the front opening,the movable module is insertable as a unit into the cavity into itsoperative position and removable as a unit out of the cavity via thefront opening, independently of the presence inside the cavity of anyother movable beverage preparation module in its operative position. 2.The machine of claim 1, wherein the housing has: an external rear faceopposite the front opening; and/or an external top face facing anexternal bottom face extending over substantially an entire height ofthe cavity spacing the top face.
 3. The machine of claim 2, wherein therear face supports or is adjacent to a plurality of cavity connectors,each movable beverage preparation module having a module connector thatis connected to a corresponding cavity connector when the module islocated thereagainst while reaching its operative position and that isdisconnected from the corresponding cavity connector when the module isremoved from the cavity.
 4. The machine of claim 3, wherein at least oneconnector of a pair of cooperating module connector and cavity connectorhas a connection interface device that is resiliently mounted to aconnection base device to enable a positioning adjustment when themodule connector and the cavity connector are connected together.
 5. Themachine of claim 3, wherein at least one pair of module connector andcavity connector have at least one of: a guide arrangement to promote aproper relative positioning of the module connector and the cavityconnector when approaching each other when the corresponding movablemodule approaches its operative position; and a sensing arrangement tosense a proper relative positioning of the module connector and thecavity connector.
 6. The machine of claim 1, which has an externalmachine front face and wherein each movable module in its operativeposition has an external module front face that forms a section of theexternal machine front face and that extends across or over the frontopening.
 7. The machine of claim 6, wherein the or each module externalfront face extends over at least 75% of the overall width or height ofthe housing.
 8. The machine of claim 6, wherein each module front faceextends flush with an adjacent external face to form together part orall of the external machine front face when the modules are in theiroperative position.
 9. The machine of claim 1, wherein at least onemovable beverage preparation module in its operative position isreleasably secured against an element that positions the module in itsoperative position, fixed to or integral with the housing, by a securingdevice.
 10. The machine of claim 1, wherein at least one movablebeverage preparation module has an arrangement for facilitating amovement into and/or out of the housing cavity, the facilitatingarrangement comprising at least one of: a grip or handle seizable fromoutside the housing when the movable beverage preparation module is inits operative position; and a guide arrangement cooperating with acounter-arrangement fixed to or integral with the housing.
 11. Themachine of claim 1, which comprises a cup support.
 12. The machine ofclaim 1, wherein at least one movable beverage preparation modulecomprises a cup holder for holding a cup under the beverage outlet. 13.The machine of claim 1, wherein at least one movable beveragepreparation module is a flavoured beverage dispenser configured tocombine a flavouring ingredient and a liquid carrier such as water fordispensing a resulting beverage via the beverage outlet or via at leastone of the beverage outlets.
 14. The machine of claim 1, wherein atleast one movable beverage preparation module is a dispenser of amilk-based beverage.
 15. The machine of claim 1, comprising a removableor non-removable liquid reservoir module having a cavity for containingliquid to be dispensed.